Pakistan’s IT Minister Heads to South Korea for AI Summit

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has departed for South Korea to participate in the Global AI and Digital Summit, where Pakistan is expected to become the first country to sign the Digital and AI Compact.

During the visit, the minister will attend a ministerial meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital inclusion, where she is expected to present Pakistan’s future roadmap for AI and digital development at a dedicated session.

Shaza Fatima is also scheduled to meet a vice president of Google to discuss digital technology and artificial intelligence. Bilateral talks with a World Bank vice president are also planned.

The minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on expanding internet access and ensuring the provision of digital services to the public.

Earlier, Shaza Fatima said Pakistan’s AI policy had been formulated comprehensively following consultations with relevant stakeholders. Addressing an event in Islamabad, she said the government would now focus on its effective implementation.

She stressed the need to embrace emerging technologies to put the country on the path to progress and development.

Pakistan currently lacks a dedicated regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. However, several existing policies, laws and regulations aim to address challenges associated with the use of AI.

These include the National Cyber Security Policy 2021, Pakistan Cloud First Policy 2022, CERT Rules 2023 and sector-specific regulations, including the Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulation (CTDISR).